Dissecting table

ABSTRACT

A device for use in the retention of a cadaver, the cadaver tray is adjustable in a multiplicity of positions by means of a lifting arm assembly connected to a chain and sprocket operated by the manual turning of a crank. The tank in which the cadaver tray is disposed is releasable from the supporting frame to facilitate cleaning.

United States Patent 1111 3,608,887

[72] Inventor Charles D. Rose [56] References Cited 739 South 83rd E85! AV., Tulsa, Okla. UNITED STATES PATENTS A l N 31 1,315,712 9/1919 Evans 27/23 l f M 1969 1,522,282 1 1925 Beach 27/23 I 1 ay 2,848,977 8/1958 Prestrud 119/158 [45] Patented Sept. 28, 1971 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. .Iuhasz Assistant Examiner-Donald D. Evenson Att0rney-Head & Johnson [54] DISSECTING TABLE 5 Claims 7 Drawmg Flgs' ABSTRACT: A device for use in the retention of a cadaver,

[52] U.S. Cl 269/322, the cadaver tray is adjustable in a multiplicity of positions by 269/327,27/23,27/28, 119/158 means of a lifting arm assembly connected to a chain and [51] Int. Cl A6lg [3/00 sprocket operated by the manual turning ofa crank. The tank [50] Field of Search 269/322, in which the cadaver tray is disposed is releasable from the 327, 328', 27/23, 28; 128/367, 369, 370; l 19/158 supporting frame to facilitate cleaning.

PATENTED SEP28 1971 SHEET 1 UF 2 INVENTOR.

CHARLES D. ROSE PATENTED SEF28I97| 34808 887 sum 2 OF 2 INVENTOR.

CHARLES D. ROSE ATTORNEYS mssscrme TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In anatomic study it is necessary to lay the cadaver in a horizontal position and expose the cadaver to a solution of alcohol and water. Present dissecting tables consist of a tank rigidly affixed to a frame having a horizontal tray within the tank. In order to ready the cadaver for study it is necessary to physically lift each end of the tray with the weight of the cadaver thereon and position it above the tank. As such there are no intermediate tray positions. In addition, the tray is not readily accessible for cleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a means for positioning a cadaver dissecting tray in a multiplicity of positions between and including full up and full down. Another object of this invention is to provide a dissecting table in which the tray is removable from the supporting frame.

Generally the cadaver tray is raised by the turning of a crank which causes a thread bar to telescope within a hollow tube. To the end of this thread post is a chain which wraps around a first sprocket. A second sprocket is interconnected with the first to rotate simultaneously therewith. Rigidly attached to each of these sprockets is a lifting arm which transvcrses the tank and upon which the cadaver tray rests. Since the chain and sprocket mechanism couples the thread post to the lifting arms, the inward movement of the thread post into the hollow tube imparts an upward rotation of the lifting arms; whereby the tray is raised. The reversal of crank direction lowers the tray position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side view of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a view, partially cut away, taken along the lines 4- 4 of FIG. ll.

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view takenalong lines 66 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a view taken along lines 67 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In describing the preferred embodiment of this invention, illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to encompass similar purposes.

Referring to FIG. I, the apparatus consists of three main parts, a tank 10, a frame 12 and a tray 14. The frame 12 is a tubular structure made of stainless steel having an upper surface defined by L-shaped stainless steel pieces; said upper surface acting as a receiver for the tank section 10. In a parallel plane below said upper surface is a shelf, for example, of plasticized plywood 16. Welded to each of the vertical brace members at one end of the frame is a hollow cylindrical socket for the acceptance of a spreader bar 20 which has at its upper terminal end a horseshoe leg holder 22. Each spreader bar is releasable from the socket and swivelable. The forward end of the frame 12 rides upon two wheels 18A and the rearward end rides upon two swivel caster wheels 188.

The tank is a rectangular stainless steel structure having an open upper surface around the periphery of which is a lip 26 having downwardly arcuate terminal ends. The lip on one side of the tank is wider than lips on the remaining sides for the holding and retaining of instruments used during anatomic work. Doors 28A and ZBB-areattached to the downwardly arcuate endsofthe lip by means of screw and'hinge arrangement 29 as is commonly known in the art. When the doors are in the closed position over the tank, the end of 28A is lodged in a' channel along the length of 288 as shown in FIG. 6. In the closed position gasket material 30 seals the tank. A padlock means 31 latches the doors together.

As shown in FIG. 2, transversely disposed within tank 10 are U-shaped lifting arms 48A and 48B composed of two vertical portions connected at their lower ends by horizontal braces 52A and 52B. The arms are pivotally attached to the tank by respective horizontal outward shafts 50A and 51A and 50B and 51B extending outwardly in opposite directions from the upper end of each vertical portion and passing through the respective aligned apertures 44A and 448 in the sidewall members. Suitable reinforcing on the tank sidewalls is pro vided to reduce wear relative to rotary movement of shafts 50 and 51 of each lifting arm. A rectangular cadaver tray I4 of a length and width slightly smaller than said tank rests in a horizontal plane on the two horizontal braces of lifting arms 48A and 48B.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the horizontal support plate 34 has its terminal ends rigidly affixed to the outer edge of two vertical parallel plates 40A and 40B extending outwardly from the sidewall surface of the tank 110 on the side having the wide lip 26. The support plate 34 is adapted to support arm shafts 50A and 50B.

Turning now to FIG. 7, journaled on a shaft 503 between the support plate 34 and the tank side member is a single toothed sprocket 36 whereas a double sprocket 38 is journaled and keyed on the shaft portion 50A of lifting arm 48. An actuating mechanism 62 consists of a rotatable, internally threaded, tube 64. A threaded bar 6 6 in engaged with said tube. The tube 64 is supported for rotation by bracket 40A near its rearward end and bearing block 68 attached to the side of the tank I0. A crank 70 is connected to the rearward end of the tube 64 by means of a universal joint 72. The forward end of the bar 66 is held in place by a second bearing block 74 and in channeled to accept a setscrew 76 which permits longitudinal movement of the post bar, but prevents rotative movement.

A first stainless steel roller chain belt has one end keyed to the single toothed sprocket 36. The chain belt in a clockwise direction engages the teeth of sprocket 36 and proceeds therefrom to engage in a counterclockwise direction one set of teeth on the double sprocket 38', the opposite end of the belt being keyed thereto. A second stainless steel roller chain belt 78 has one end keyed to the second set of teeth on sprocket 38 and the other end attached to the forward edge of the bar 66.

In operation, a solution of alcohol, glycerin and water is poured into the tank 10 and the cadaver is laid horizontally on the tray I4. For study of the cadaver, the apparatus is wheeled into position, the padlock unlocked and the doors 28A and 28B are pivotally swing outwardly and downwardly. The tray with the cadaver thereon is raised to a desired working position by the rotation of the crank 70, which rotates the arm 48A counterclockwise and 48B clockwise. Spreader rods 20A and 20B are inserted into sockets 24A and 24B and the legs of the cadaver are disposed on the horseshoe shape holders 22 as necessary. By rotation of the crank. 70 the height of the cadaver tray can be varied in order to facilitate the study. After the work on the cadaver has been finished the tray 14 with the cadaver thereon is lowered into the tank by the op posite rotation of the crank. The doons 28A and 28B are then swung upwardly until they cover the open surface and overlap each other. The doors are then padlocked together and the device is stored until the next study period.

When it is necessary to clean the apparatus, the tank por tion 10 can be removed from the frame 12 and turned on its side thereby facilitating the cleaning. To further facilitate cleaning the tray 14 can easily be lifted from the tank since it merely rests on the lifting arms 48A and 483.

What is claimed:

1. An apparatus for the retention of a cadaver comprising:

a supporting frame;

a leakproof tank having an open upper surface, said tank being releasably mounted on said frame;

a removable tray horizontally disposed within said tank;

means for the placement and detention of said tray in a multiplicity of vertical positions between and including full up and full down, said means comprising at lease two tandem-spaced wheel mechanisms rotatably mounted on one side of said tank, an arm rigidly attached to each wheel mechanism and having a portion transversely extending across said tank, said transversing portion creating a lifting surface pivotal about the longitudinal axis of attachment of said arm to said wheel mechanism, said transversing portions supporting the horizontally disposed tray;

at least one belt means interconnecting said wheel mechanisms; and

means for imparting movement to said belt means.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein:

said tank is rectangular in shape;

said tandem-spaced wheel mechanism consists of a rearward and forward sprocket means;

said arm portion within said tank being in the shape of a U,

the base of the U supporting the removable tray;

said belt is a chain rigidly attached on one end to the rearward sprocket and engaged in the teeth of said sprocket in a clockwise direction, said chain proceeding to the wrapping around in a counterclockwise direction the forward sprocket and rigidly terminating on one end of a thread post, the opposite end of the thread post being telescopically engaged in a threaded tube; and

a crank on the outer end of said tube for imparting rotary movement thereto.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said forward sprocket has a double set of teeth of diverse pitch;

a first chain belt coupling the rearward sprocket to the smaller set of teeth on the forward sprocket;

a second chain belt having one end keyed-to the engaging the second set of teeth on the forward sprocket and having its other end attached to said thread bar.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 having receiver means for the appendages of said cadaver.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said tank has door portions pivotally attached to opposite sides, said door portions in closed position covering said open upper surface, said doors having means for being locked to each other, and means to seal said door portions relative to each other and to said tank. 

1. An apparatus for the retention of a cadaver comprising: a supporting frame; a leakproof tank having an open upper surface, said tank being releasably mounted on said frame; a removable tray horizontally disposed within said tank; means for the placement and detention of said tray in a multiplicity of vertical positions between and including full up and full down, said means comprising at lease two tandemspaced wheel mechanisms rotatably mounted on one side of said tank, an arm rigidly attached to each wheel mechanism and having a portion transversely extending across said tank, said transversing portion creating a lifting surface pivotal about the longitudinal axis of attachment of said arm to said wheel mechanism, said transversing portions supporting the horizontally disposed tray; at least one belt means interconnecting said wheel mechanisms; and means for imparting movement to said belt means.
 2. A device as in claim 1 wherein: said tank is rectangular in shape; said tandem-spaced wheel mechanism consists of a rearward and forward sprocket means; said arm portion within said tank being in the shape of a U, the base of the U supporting the removable tray; said belt is a chain rigidly attached on one end to the rearward sprocket and engaged in the teeth of said sprocket in a clockwise direction, said chain proceeding to the wrapping around in a counterclockwise direction the forward sprocket and rigidly terminating on one end of a thread post, the opposite end of the thread post being telescopically engaged in a threaded tube; and a crank on the outer end of said tube for imparting rotary movement thereto.
 3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said forward sprocket has a double set of teeth of diverse pitch; a first chain belt coupling the rearward sprocket to the smaller set of teeth on the forward sprocket; a second chain belt having one end keyed to the engaging the second set of teeth on the forward sprocket and having its other end attached to said thread bar.
 4. An apparatus as in claim 1 having receiver means for the appendages of said cadaver.
 5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said tank has door portions pivotally attached to opposite sides, said door portions in closed position covering said open upper surface, said doors having means for being locked to each other, and means to seal said door portions relative to each other and to said tank. 